Former Manchester United player Charlie Savage blocked from playing for new club after financial controversy
Charlie Savage has been caught in the middle of an ongoing financial tug-of-war between Reading FC and the EFL
Former Manchester United player Charlie Savage has been caught in the crossfire of Reading’s financial issues and could be blocked from playing for the club.
The United academy graduate joined the League One side last month on a four-year deal. As revealed by the Manchester Evening News, the move includes a significant sell-on fee for the Reds, who will also retain the right to match any bid for the youngster in the future.
The Royals were relegated to League One last season having been hit by a six-point deduction which contributed to their demise. Reading have been surrounded in uncertainty all summer and their problems remain on the eve of the new season.
Reading were under a transfer embargo for much of the summer but that was lifted, allowing them to sign Savage from United as well as midfielder Lewis Wing on a free transfer. Or so they thought.
No sooner was the red tape removed, it returned again. Reading are now under another embargo due to the late payment of a bill to HMRC with the English Football League refusing to accept the registration of Savage and Wing, as a result.
Much-maligned owner Dai Yongge has promised to settle the outstanding debt in a club statement on Wednesday. A club statement said: “Despite ongoing complex cashflow constraints – related in part to the intense and protracted effects of the global pandemic which continue to impact business in China – the full wage bill has been satisfied for both players and staff at the end of the month and a late payment to HMRC – which temporarily placed the club back under a strict embargo at the end of last week – is due to be personally resolved by Mr Dai in the coming days.”
However, the press release also admitted the club needs a cash injection in the immediate future, raising further concerns for supporters. Fans have set up a group called ‘Sell Before We Dai’ and plan protests outside the stadium ahead of the season opener against Peterborough United on Saturday.
Earlier this week, Savage’s dad, Robbie, said: “I’m very worried about the mental well-being of a young boy who took a brave decision, the biggest gamble of his life, to leave Manchester United – and now he’s not able to play.
“After signing for Reading, he was allowed to train and play in friendlies, but now he can’t. How has that happened?”
Charlie Savage caught at centre of EFL transfer row immediately after Man Utd exit
The Manchester United academy graduate is hoping to make his League One debut for Reading this weekend, but has instead found himself at the centre of a new embargo
Charlie Savage has been left in limbo by Reading’s new transfer embargo – and Royals boss Ruben Selles is furious he could miss the big kick-off.
Just 48 hours after they signed the former Wales international Robbie Savage’s son and midfielder Lewis Wing, Reading – who were only cleared to bring in new players after a transfer embargo was lifted last month – were hit by another one.
And the EFL are refusing to register both Savage and Wing until an unpaid tax bill has been settled with HMRC.
As things stand, that means Savage – who left Manchester United last month with two years left on his contract – and Wing will be unavailable for the Royals’ League One opener against Peterborough.
And new manager Selles, who warned last month that he needed “at least 10 new players” to mount a promotion challenge, is still nowhere near completing his squad rebuild.
Savage’s father refused to comment, but earlier this week he said on BBC’s Six-0-Six phone-in: “I’m very worried about the mental well-being of a young boy who took a brave decision, the biggest gamble of his life, to leave Manchester United – and now he’s not able to play.
“After signing for Reading, he was allowed to train and play in friendlies, but now he can’t. How has that happened?”
Savage, 20, made his move to Berkshire after Reading’s transfer embargo was lifted last month, following settlement of overdue tax payments. But 48 hours after he signed, the club was plunged into a new embargo, with the added hammer-blow that neither Savage nor Wing would be registered to play for Reading by the EFL until the taxman was paid in full.
Fans are expected to protest against owner Dai Yongge’s chaotic regime at the game with Posh, but it may come too late to help Savage make his debut. Reading are understood to be insistent that their latest HMRC bill will be settled “in the coming days” – but Savage will have to sit tight until then.
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